Big Apple beatdown: Grichuk powers Cards to decisive win over Mets
ST. LOUIS -- Another big night for Randal Grichuk couldn't have come at a better time for him or the Cardinals.
It took just three pitches for St. Louis to match its run total from the series opener as center fielder Peter Bourjos singled and then flew around the bases to score on Grichuk's double off of Mets left-hander Jonathan Niese. The Cardinals just kept hitting in a 10-2 win, and Grichuk smashed two more extra-base hits to finish with three RBIs.
His success didn't surprise manager Mike Matheny, even a day after Grichuk went 0 for 6 with five strikeouts in a 2-1, 14-inning loss. The rookie outfielder knows how to hit, and even his final out traveled more than 300 feet to left field.
"You can't live in the past," Grichuk told Jim Hayes during the Cardinals Live postgame show. "Coming into today, I knew I had to put yesterday's game behind me and go out with confidence and believe in myself, really."
His teammates followed his example in the Cardinals' biggest win of the year, which included a six-run sixth inning to put the game out of reach. It began with singles by shortstop Jhonny Peralta, catcher Yadier Molina and first baseman Mark Reynolds to load the bases; Grichuk and second baseman Kolten Wong then delivered two-run doubles.
That would be the second time St. Louis stranded Grichuk on third base, but he scored on Peralta's single after a long double to center field in the third inning. Six of the rookie's seven hits this season have gone for extra bases, including a home run in his first at-bat.
Grichuk provided a solid Matt Carpenter impression as the third baseman took the night off, leaving the No. 2 spot open for the young right-handed hitter. He has appeared in three different slots in the order since returning from a lower back strain last Saturday, and Matheny continues to like what he sees.
In fact, the entire Cardinals lineup impressed, striking out just three times and matching a season high with 15 hits. Two more runs would have matched the team's total over the last six games, when they never reached their season average of 4.4 runs per game.
"They had an individualized approach of what they were looking for," Matheny told reporters during the Cardinals Live postgame show on FOX Sports Midwest. "They had an idea of what they were wanting to do, what they thought the pitcher might do against them, and waited for a pitch that they could drive."
Watch the Cardinals Live pregame and postgame shows before and after every St. Louis Cardinals game on FOX Sports Midwest.
3 UP
• Wacha Wacha Wacha. The Cardinals' most consistent starter this season turned in the team's third straight strong performance.
Michael Wacha silenced the Mets to improve to 6-0 this season and keep St. Louis perfect in his eight starts. No one in the rotation can match his 2.13 ERA or the nearly six runs per game of support he's received from the offense.
"He's improved, and I think he's just getting a better idea of how to use his stuff each night," Matheny said. "He's adjusting real well, too, and Yadi's a great help there, too, to help him figure out what's good that day and then try and ride it out."
The right-hander struck out five in seven innings, giving St. Louis three straight starts of seven innings or more for the first time this season -- and the third time Wacha has pitched that deep into a game. The Mets' four hits were the fewest he has allowed this year.
He even made some offensive contributions with a perfectly executed safety squeeze to score Wong and a single when Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy and first baseman Lucas Duda both charged Wacha's bunt.
• Reynolds power. Reynolds hit a two-run home run deep into the left-field seats to extend the Cardinals' lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning.
Two more singles raised Reynolds' season average to .271, a solid mark for a utility player who has made starts at third, first and left field this season. He moved into a four-way tie for fourth place on the team with three home runs to go along with 12 RBIs.
• Leading all the way. The Cardinals never trailed for the first time in their last seven games and just the fourth time in 18 games in May. Thanks to Grichuk's first-inning RBI, St. Louis pitchers had the comfort of a lead all night for the first time since a 2-0 win over the Cubs in the season opener.
3 DOWN
When your only real blemish is a two-run home run by Daniel Murphy off the netting at the bottom of the right-field foul pole, it's been a pretty good night. How well did things go for the Cardinals? Reliever Randy Choate drew a ninth-inning walk to reach base for the first time in his major league career.
"It's a much looser clubhouse tonight with everybody joking," Choate told reporters during Cardinals Live. "Everybody can laugh at the fact that I got up there, and if that can entertain and kind of break up the monotony, then it's worth it."
You can follow Luke Thompson on Twitter at @FS_LukeT or email him at lukegthompson87@gmail.com.
